‘He stood on top of the world but never came home’: Overcrowding, avalanches and death on Everest

Everest typically claims around five climbers each spring season, but 11 have died so far this year. Even as wealthy Westerners queue for the summit as hundreds of permits are handing out, conquering the mountain remains as perilous as it was during Hillary and Tenzing’s first successful ascent. Maroosha Muzaffar reports

A photo by project possible showing an example of the queues to climb Mount Everest in recent years (AFP photo/@Nimsdai Project Possible)

Jason Bernard Kennison was told he would never walk again after a horrific accident in 2006, yet this month the Australian defied all his doctors’ expectations by climbing to the summit of Mount Everest.

He did not make it back down the mountain, having fallen ill on the descent.

“He stood on top of this world but sadly didn’t come home,” his grieving family in Perth said.